Stacked container device



Jan. 15, 1952 ESSMAN 2,582,421

STACKED CONTAINER DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOR.MANUEL ESSMAN ATTORN EY.

Jan. 15, 1952 M. ESSMAN STACKED CONTAINER DEVICE 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FiledJan. 24, 1949 FIG. 5.

QZIK

FIG. 6.

. IN V EN TOR. MANUEL ESSMAN.

A'TTOIZNEY.

Patented Jan. 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STACKED CONTAINERDEVICE Manuel Essman, New York, N. Y.

Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,485

The present invention relates to improvements in stacked containers andhas as its general object theprovision of a novel container unit whereinthe individual container compartments are adapted to be supported oneabove the other in vertically aligned, superimposed relationship intheir inoperative condition and wherein each compartment is readilyswingable to exposed position permitting easy inspection of and accessto the contents thereof without interfering with the stackedrelationship of the remaining compart Another object of the invention isthe provision of a containerassembly of the characterindicated which isof exceedingly simple design and construction and wherein the swivelmounting of the separate container compartments is achieved without theuse of separate auxiliary supporting brackets, bearings and the like andwherein inadvertent misalignment of the compartments isrendered'impossible.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a containerassembly of the character indicated wherein the component elementsthereof may be readily and inexpensively fabricated by simple moldingoperations. In order to achieve the latter object the individualcontainer units or compartments may be formed with an integral hub orsleeve portion readily insertable over an upright standard or rodaffixed to a base element .so as to eliminate additional time-consumingassembly operations.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a containerassembly of the character indicated wherein any given container unit maybe readily removed and associated with a cover element to constitute aconvenient closed unit particularly suitable for selling and dispensingpurposes without requiring additional wrapping and packaging.

The foregoing objects as well as additional objects and advantages ofthe invention will be readily apparent in the course of the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pair of individual containerunits formed according to the invention, each unit being formed with ahandle-grip, a stop member or pin limiting its swinging movement and alock member or pin for releasably engaging the unit in inoperativealigned position with respect to the container assembly;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the container 1 Claim. (01. 312-201)assembly comprising a plurality of container units mounted insuperimposed stacked relationship on the upright standard or rod of abase element;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a container assembiyprovided with alighting source mounted on the standard thereof and showing some of thecontainer units swung to operative exposed posiion;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the container assembly with the individualcontainer units swung to operative exposed position;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the container assembly with the containerunits arranged in inoperative aligned or stacked relation;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-45 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of a removed container unit and cover elementtherefor adapting the unit for dispensing or vending purposes.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the individualcontainer units are generally designated by reference numeral Hi and maybe moldedfrom plastic or other suitable material, preferably incylindrical form being open at the top and having a bottom wall I l andan annular sidewall 12. Each container unit it is provided with aperipheral hub or sleeve member l3 preferably formed integrally withside wall [2 and having a vertical bore l4 extending therethrough. Alateral hand-grip I5 is also provided to facilitate swinging thecontainer unit it into and out of aligned position with respect to thecontainer assembly, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, containers In may be provided withintegral walls or partitions I6 dividing the interior of the containerinto sub-compartments. Although sleeve members I3 may be formedexteriorly of side walls 12, they are preferably formed interiorly ofthe side wall in order to provide a smooth, continuous contour and neatappearance of the assembled container units.

Container units I 0 are arranged for superposition in stackedrelationship on a base member I! having an upright standard or rod l8secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by threaded engagementtherewith. The container units are assembled simply by inserting thesleeve member !3 over the upright rod I8. When it is desired to haveaccess to the contents of any given container unit, the unit may beswung about rod l8 from inoperative position of Fig. 4, using thehand-grip [5.

Stop means is preferably provided for limiting the swinging movement ofeach container with respect to a subsequent container. This stop meanspreferably takes the form of a projection or pin IS on bottom wall I ladjacent the peripherythereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Locking meansis also provided on bottom wall H adjacent hand-grip H for releasablysecuring the container units in stacked aligned relationship. Saidlocking means conveniently takes the'form of a projection 26 extendingdownwardly from the bottom wall H of a given container unit H) forfrictional engagement against the upper edge of side wall I2 of asubjacent container unit. In order for the lowermost unit ID to seatproperly on base member ll, stop pin l9 and locking projection 2B areomitted on said lowermost unit.

A cover or lid 2| is provided for the uppermost container, being formedwith an opening for insertion over upright I 8 and also with a handgrip2la.

While the container assembly is not limited in its use and may beemployed to house any type of article, it is desirable for somepurposes-to provide a, source of illumination, as when sewing articlesand the like are disposed within the container units ID, for example.Thus Fig. 3 illustrates illuminating element 22 which may be easily andconveniently mounted on upright rod l8.

novel design and construction enables a particular container unit ID tobe removed from the upright rod 18 and to be associated with a coverclement adapting the unit for vending and dispensing purposes withoutrequiring additional wrapping and packaging. Fig. .7 illustrates aremoved container unit In anda separate cover element 25 for thespecified purpose. Cover element 25 is provided adjacent its peripherywith a stem or stud 26 insertable within the bore M of sleeve member I3.A stop pin 21 also is provided for limiting the swinging movement of thecover and a locking projection 28 serves to releasably secure the coverin closed position.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the assembly of thecontainer units in stacked aligned relationship is effected in a simpleand direct manner without requiring the use of auxiliary fasteningelement, brackets or the like by the provision of integral sleevemembers l3 which are insertable over and swingable upon Another featureof the invention inherent in its upright rod I8. When the containerunits are arranged in stacked aligned relationship, the assembly isdust-proof. The contents of the individual container units I0 may bevisually inspected without swinging the units to exposed operativeposition by molding the units from transparent plastic material.

Since certain additional modifications may be made in the stackedcontainer device of the present invention without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingspecification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpretedmerely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

A stacked container device comprising a base member having an uprightsupport and a p1urality of container units adapted to be normallyarranged upon said support in stacked, aligned relationship, each ofsaid container units having an integral sleeve member insertable oversaid upright support to swing thereabout, each container unit except thelowermost one having depending means at one side of the container forengaging the opposite side of each subjacent container when saidcontainers are swung into open position, whereby said container unitswill be successively opened in spiral fashion when the superjacentcontainer is swung open and depend ing stop means on each container sopositioned as to engage the exterior wall of a subjacent containerslightly in advance of the closed position of said containers wherebycontinued closing motion of said container will cause a binding actionbetween said container and a subiacent container.

MANUEL ESSMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 245,855 Morrison Aug. 16, 18811,256,306 Glanton Feb. 12, 1918 1,289,657 Cheney Dec. 31, 1918 1,831,401Weidlich et al Nov. 10, 1931 2,045,013 7 Howland June 23, 1936 2,136,843Dinkel Nov. 15, 1938 Mueller Oct. 21, 1947

